Wood flooring brings beauty and elegance to any place but when it looks tired and worn out it somehow loses its natural charm. However, there’s a solution to that. You can either hire a professional for a thorough hardwood floor refinishing or put your workwear on and start a DIY hardwood floor restoration.
If you’re thinking about an easy way to restore your hardwood flooring, you should first read this guide to find out where to start and what tools and products you’re going to need. Also, we’ll give you some technical tips for a better outcome.
Does your damaged hardwood floor bother you? Leave it to us! Minuteman Floors in Manchester, NH offers a complete hardwood floor refinishing service to restore all the beauty and charm. Call for more information!
Deciding to Restore Your Wood Floor Yourself or Hire a Professional Refinishing Service
Before we start our step-by-step guide on DIY hardwood floor restoration, we should first help you make the best choice between restoring the floor yourself or hiring a professional.
Hardwood flooring is rather expensive and you don’t want to ruin your wood floor. So, here is what you need to do.
- Inspect The Condition of The Floor
See how serious the problems are. For example, if there are only minor scratches, surface wear, and scuffs, a DIY wood floor restoration is possible.
However, if you notice gouges, deep scratches, water damage, and other significant problems, then the floor needs sanding. For this, specialized tools are needed and you also need to know how to use sanders or finishing equipment.
Sometimes, you can see warping, buckling, and structural damage. This means it’s not a good time to start a DIY project. Ask for professional help to find the underlying issues and fix your hardwood floor without causing further damage.
- Consider Your Time, Skills, and Budget
Having enough time to spend on your DIY flooring restoration project is important. Don’t forget that as you’re not a flooring expert, it’ll take longer, you may make some mistakes and need to redo some steps, and you’ll need to prepare the necessary tools and products.
So, you can’t do it yourself if you aren’t patient enough or don’t have much time.
Another important aspect to consider is your experience and skills in home improvement projects and using tools.
If you don’t have any experience, it’s not a good idea to begin with a wood floor restoration.
In addition, you should think about the budget. When you do it yourself, of course, you’ll save money on labor costs. But you should also buy some products and tools and may need to rent specialized equipment.
So, before you start the project, compare the costs of a DIY restoration project to a professional restoration service in your area.
- What Are Your Expectations?
Finally, you should accept the fact that even if you use the best products in the market and try your best to be meticulous, still the result won’t match the professional level. So, if you’re looking for a flawless finish, it’s time to call an experienced professional.
Overall, as experts we recommend a DIY hardwood floor restoration only to those who have a little experience and are comfortable with tools. Also, for significant flooring problems, a DIY restoration can make the floor condition worse and waste your time and money.
So, don’t jump into it, think twice before you start the project.
A Step-By-Step Guide on Easy DIY Hardwood Floor Restoration Without Sanding
This is a simple guide for those who don’t want to rent and use specialized equipment, such as sanders.
For this easy hardwood floor restoration, you’re going to need the following tools and products. However, some of them are optional. So, first, read the guide and then decide which of the following materials and tools you won’t need.
- A vacuum cleaner,
- A suitable mop (microfiber mops are most of the time the best option for a hardwood floor) and a bucket,
- Buffing pad for wood floor or microfiber cloth,
- Hardwood floor cleaner,
- Matching wood stain,
- Hardwood floor polish or revitalizer,
- Dust mask, gloves, and safety goggles,
- Wood markers or fillers.
Follow the instructions carefully.
Step 1: Deep Cleaning and Staining the Wood Floor
The first thing to do is to remove all the furniture and rugs and clear the room completely to make it ready for deep cleaning.
Start cleaning by vacuuming the floor to remove dust and debris. Then, use a hardwood floor cleaner and mop the floor. If you don’t have a suitable hardwood floor cleaner, just mix water with a few drops of dish soap, nothing harsh. And, remember not to soak the floor, otherwise, you’ll have to deal with water damage later.
If there are scratches and minor discoloration, now is a good time to apply wood stain to cover them. Use a similar color to the existing color and apply the paint with a soft cloth or a brush. Use a circular motion for a better result. When it is totally dry (at least 24 hours), you can use a clear sealant for more protection.
In case you don’t want to stain the floor, use a coat of wax for minor scratches and wood filler for deeper ones.
Read Different Types of Hardwood Floor Damage to learn more about using wood fillers and other products to repair different types of hardwood flooring damage.
Step 2: Polishing and Buffing the Hardwood Floor
When the floor is dry, repaired, and cleaned, pour a hardwood floor polish or revitalizer, spread it evenly with your microfiber mop, and let it dry.
These products come with instructions, so read the manufacturer’s instructions before applying. To make it easier, divide your floor into small sections and apply the polish one section at a time.
When the polish dries, it’s time to buff the floor to make it shiny. If you have a floor buffer, it’ll be easier, better, and faster. If not, don’t worry. Start buffing with a buffing pad or a dry microfiber cloth to achieve the shine you’re looking for.
These two are the main steps you’ll need to take to restore your floor easily and quickly. However, if you’re ready to take it to the next level, buy yourself a chemical abrasion kit to abrade the surface slightly without a sander.
Use a Chemical Abrasion Kit to Restore Your Hardwood Floor by Yourself
Chemical abrasion kits for hardwood floors, like this one on Amazon, offer a simpler way to sand the surface of the floor. If there are discolorations, the floor is really worn, and you don’t want to sand down the floor for any reason, we do recommend using these kits. Plus, abrading the surface makes the surface more receptive to the new finish.
Chemical abrasion kits usually include a cleaner, an abrasive pad, a finish, and instructions.
First, you should clean the floor thoroughly with the cleaner. Then, if you have a buffer, attach the abrasive pad to it, if not, attach it to a mop. Then, go over the entire floor and abrade the surface evenly.
Now, it’s time to apply the finish according to the instructions and let it dry completely. Don’t walk on the floor unless you’re sure the finish is dry.
Check the floor for any imperfections and apply additional coats if it’s necessary.
Tips for DIY Hardwood Floor Restoration
- When inspecting the floor, pay attention to any sign of damage and what’s causing it. Address the cause as well as repair the damage before restoration.
- If you hear squeaks, find the boards that are making the noise and fix them. Read this DIY guide to fix squeaky floorboards for more information.
- Protect yourself from chemicals and dust by wearing a mask, safety goggles, and gloves.
- When applying stains and finishes, make sure the room is well-ventilated.
- Some finishes and stains give off VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that aren’t good for our health. So, you shouldn’t stay in the area while it’s drying. Learn about different hardwood floor finishes here.
- For your own safety and better results, and to avoid costly damage, use the right equipment and products.
- Make sure the floor is dust-free and clean before applying any finish.
- If you want to stain the floor, test it in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it’s what you like.
- When sanding, abrading, or applying a finish/stain, make sure it’s even.
- Check the drying times of the products, like stain and finish, before starting the restoration. This helps you make a realistic estimate of the time you’re going to need for the process.
- Make sure the previous coat (of stain or finish) is completely dry before applying again.
- Significant changes in temperature and humidity levels may cause finish curving. So, try your best to keep them consistent during the process.
- Avoid furniture dragging and heavy foot traffic for a few days after applying a finish to let it cure.
- Maintain your hardwood floor well to keep it in good shape for longer.
Call Minuteman Floors now to schedule a free home visit to assess the condition of your hardwood floor.
FAQs about DIY Wood Floor Restoration
Here are our experts’ answers to some of your most frequent questions about DIY hardwood floor restoration.
What Type of Wood Floor Is Easier to Restore?
Usually, solid hardwood floors, like oak, maple, and hickory, are easier to restore and refinish because they’re durable and can be sanded multiple times. So, if you’re sanding down your hardwood floor and make a mistake, there’s room to correct it. Also, the uniform thickness of these types of wood makes sanding easier for DIY enthusiasts.
What Skills Do I Need to Restore a Hardwood Floor Myself?
You should at least know about the wood characteristics, repairing minor hardwood flooring damages, applying stains and finishes, and how to sand a hardwood floor (if you want to sand down the floor). Besides, it’ll help a lot if you’re detail-oriented and can plan the project timeline well. Most importantly, you should make safety your top priority.
Can I Change the Color of My Hardwood Floor During Restoration?
Yes. After sanding, you can apply a wood stain with your desired color and then apply the finish after it dries.
How Long Does It Take for a Wood Finish to Dry Completely?
It depends on the finish type. Water-based finishes dry sooner than oil-based finishes. However, it’s recommended not to walk on the wood floor for at least 3 days after refinishing.
An Excellent and Thorough Hardwood Floor Refinishing in Manchester, NH
We have discussed the process, tools, and products you’ll need for a simple DIY hardwood floor restoration without sanding down the floor. However, if it’s still too much for you or your floor needs much more than this to look good again, hire a professional hardwood flooring refinishing service.
In Manchester and its neighboring towns, we provide a premium hardwood refinishing service to get rid of all the discolorations and damages. You will think you have replaced the whole flooring after we’re done!
Call 603-782-1942 to discuss your project and schedule an appointment.